Ouarzazate isn’t among the tourist hotspots of Morocco. At most, visitors stay for a quick stopover, but many just drive through it. It’s fair to say that, unless you’re a film buff, you wouldn’t include it in your itinerary.

I admit that before my trip, I didn’t even know of this city. However, tempted by a ridiculously affordable flight (£22!), I decided to start the adventure there. Ouarzazate is known as the “Gateway to the Sahara”, and in my case, it was also the introduction to Morocco.

Getting to Ouarzazate

If you do come to Ouarzazate, it will most likely be by bus, thanks to decent links to Marrakesh, Agadir, Casablanca and other popular spots. The bus terminal is right in the city centre, a stone’s throw from the town hall and the tourist office.

Flights to Ouarzazate are few and far between, with international links limited to France and Spain. My route from London Stansted doesn’t seem to operate anymore – it could be seasonal, or has been suspended altogether. You can see the full range on FlightConnections.com.

The upside of flying in or out of Ouarzazate is the convenient location of the airport. It was a 20-minute walk to my accommodation, which itself was only another 20 minutes from the city centre! It was the first time I made it from an airport entirely on foot, without having to rely on transport whatsoever!

Places to see

With a population of about 71,000, Ouarzazate is not a big city, and a quiet one by Moroccan standards. In fact, its name in Berber languages means “without noise”.

Main points of interest are concentrated along Avenue Mohammed V where you’ll find the regional tourist centre. One of the helpful staff invited me in from the street which made me feel very welcome in the city.

Place Al-Mouahidine

The main square in Ouarzazate. Its northern side is lined with restaurants, and there is an adjoining market to the west. Busy at all times of the day, it comes fully alive at night. You’ll likely to see a musical performance and lots of people strolling around and socializing.

Film studios

Ouarzazate’s nickname “Hollywood of Morocco” isn’t an exaggeration. The film industry is a big part of its economy, with dozens of productions made in the area annually. Scenes from such blockbusters as Gladiator, The Jewel of the Nile and Lawrence of Arabia were filmed here. Some 5 kilometres west from the city, Atlas Studios was established in 1983, followed by CLA Studios in 2004. Both are essential for movie nerds.

On your way to the studios, keep an eye out for the Cinema Monument – a small sculpture in the middle of the roundabout where Mohammed V and Moulay Abdellah Avenues meet. For some reason, though, it wasn’t on display when I visited in April 2025, which I didn’t know, making a long detour on foot for nothing. But you might have more luck!

Cinema Museum

If you don’t have time, or simply don’t want to go out of your way to see the studios (like myself), the Cinema Museum is the perfect alternative. For only 30 dirhams (£2.45, €2.80, $3.25), you can roam around old film sets, looking at props, costumes and equipment. The downside is that there are no labels to go with the exhibits, leaving you clueless as to what it is you are actually looking at.

Kasbah Taourirt

Across the road from the Cinema Museum is a famous fortress – kasbah – dating back to the 17th century. Made mostly of mudbrick and pisé (rammed earth), it’s a wonderful example of earthen architecture typical for this part of Morocco. Inside you’ll find mostly empty rooms, but it still is arguably the biggest tourist magnet in the city.

Old Synagogue

I didn’t go inside the Kasbah, and instead wandered around the narrow, atmospheric streets around it. Stuck my head in a couple of shops and eventually found the Old Synagogue. You’ll likely to be greeted by independent young guides outside. One of them showed me around and offered to take photos. While the entry to the synagogue is free, I felt it was appropriate to tip him.

Ouarzazate viewpoint

Although not a tourist attraction by any means, I went up the hill in the city centre for a panoramic viewpoint of Ouarzazate. It’s a bit of a no-name behind the local government office (Municipalité de Ouarzazate). The shortest way to get there is via Avenue des Far, but I fancied a longer way through the winding streets near the river.

The city skyline is very far from spectacular, but on a clear day, you’ll see the snow-capped peak of the Atlas Mountains.

Parc du 9 Juillet

Ouarzazate is so lacking in green spaces, that it makes this modest park seem like a big deal. It’s named after 9 July, the birth day of King Hassan II, whose son Mohammed VI patrons the nearby mosque. Clean and looked-after, it has the feel of a curated garden. The big open space in the middle hosted the Morocco Solar Festival between 2014 and 2018.

The park was on my way to the centre, but I didn’t go in until my last morning, regretting I didn’t have time for more than a quick stroll. From there, I went for breakfast to La Renaissance – a perfect café for watching the life go by on the busy Mohammed V Avenue. Then made my way to the bus station, and off I went to Marrakesh!

Visit Ouarzazate

As you see, there is not that much to do in Ouarzazate. Visitors also go for day trips to Aït Ben Haddou, which is technically well outside the city. I did it as part of my Sahara tour and will cover it in another post.

If you’re not used to crowded places, Ouarzazate will be a good place to ease yourself in before moving on to the hustle and bustle of Morocco’s bigger cities.